British Premier
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | British Premier | ||
| Type: | Steam tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 5.872 tons | ||
| Completed | 1922 - Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Jarrow and Hebburn-on-Tyne | ||
| Owner | British Tanker Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 24 Dec, 1940 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-65 (Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen) | ||
| Position | 06.20N, 13.20W - Grid ET 2661 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 45 (32 dead and 13 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | SLS-60 (straggler) | ||
| Route | Abadan - Freetown (22 Dec) - Swansea | ||
| Cargo | 8000 tons of crude oil | ||
| History | | ||
| Notes on loss | At 16.41 hours on 24 Dec, 1940, the British Premier (Master Francis Dalziel), a straggler from convoy SLS-60, was torpedoed and sunk by U-65 200 miles southwest of Freetown. The master, 30 crew members and one gunner were lost. Nine crew members were picked up on 3 Jan, 1941, by HMS Hawkins (I 86) (Capt H.P.K. Oram, RN) and landed at Freetown. Four surviors were rescued on 3 February off the west coast of Africa after 41 days in an open boat (25 days without food) by HMS Faulknor (H 62) (Capt A.F. de Salis) and landed at Freetown. | ||
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